Adam Barrett has over 250 appearances for Southend

Southend captain Adam Barrett says life at the club is stressful and the players have been distracted by the late payment of wages.

Manager Steve Tilson told BBC Essex last weekend that the club was late paying the players' salaries.

Barrett said: "I've got two kids and a wife, so it's extremely difficult. I've never been in a situation like this.

"You can't solely concentrate on your football because of it. There're too many off-field things happening."

The Blues have won just one of their past 16 games and plummeted into the League One relegation zone.

Barrett added: "It's been extremely hard for every single one of the lads and management team. I think a few of the boys are mentally drained by it all; it is a strain.

"But there are still games to go, so we've got to try to put that aside and keep plugging away because we don't want to get relegated."

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